# Plumbing help: sink strainer is stuck... **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [February 16, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764 "2013-02-16T17:04:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/1 "2013-02-16T17:04:14Z")
![http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/64411_10151280947804599_1943397152_n.jpg](http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/64411_10151280947804599_1943397152_n.jpg) So, I am trying to remove this sink strainer. Normally you loosen the top nut, which holds the lower “basket” up against the sink bottom, and holds the sink strainer tightly against the sink. I loosened that top nut, and started to remove it, but the lower basket can’t clear the metal nut seen in the middle of the photo. If I wrench on it, the entire strainer spins. Any ideas? Think I can hold the strainer with needle nose from above and then wrench on the large metal nut? I don’t even know what it’s for, but it’s huge, and on there like crazy. I contemplated using the saws all if I can’t figure this out… Mark ---
**Author:** ![dirtye30](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dirtye30/32/7333_2.png) [@dirtye30](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dirtye30)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/2 "2013-02-16T17:10:57Z")
cut it out and replace it. ---
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/3 "2013-02-16T17:13:00Z")
You know I’m talking about the metal threads, right? It’s going robe a bitch to get at, even with the saws all. I don’t know how they got it in, unless it just seized up over the years. ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/4 "2013-02-16T17:13:01Z")
The white plastic nut is a compression sryle nut. Loosen it and the pvc pipe should slide up or down. This is not a typical drain assembly (from what I can see). You are missing a trap elbow. ---
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/5 "2013-02-16T17:28:33Z")
I’m not missing a trap, this is a two drain sink, and yes, the PVC slides up and down no problem when i loosen the pvc nut, but thats not the issue. The problem I listed in the first post is the metal nut not moving, so I can’t remove the basket, so I can’t remove the strainer. ---------- Post added at 08:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:16 PM ---------- This picture shows what I mean, after I loosen the top nut, I can only drop the basket down an inch before it hits the next nut. I think you may be right dirty, not sure if anything but the saws all will work here, ugh ![http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/521287_10151280978959599_1205514894_n.jpg](http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/521287_10151280978959599_1205514894_n.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/6 "2013-02-16T17:31:01Z")
Sorry, your first pic showed heavy wall pvc so I assumed it went right into the wall. ---
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/7 "2013-02-16T17:44:08Z")
Grinder it is! ---
**Author:** ![donkeyballs69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@donkeyballs69](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/donkeyballs69)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/8 "2013-02-16T17:51:24Z")
Put 2 screw drivers in the top to hold it. ---
**Author:** ![slo\_ride](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@slo\_ride](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slo_ride)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/9 "2013-02-16T20:02:46Z")
PVC costs a lot less than your time… cut it off ---
**Author:** ![Jam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jam/32/7235_2.png) [@Jam](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/10 "2013-02-16T23:43:00Z")
> [@slo ride](#): > > PVC costs a lot less than your time… cut it off X2 ---
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/11 "2013-02-17T06:01:49Z")
Cutting the PVC won’t do anything!! I am trying to remove the metal strainer, metal basket, and metal threads. The PCV moves no problem. ---
**Author:** ![1QIKZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1qikz/32/6112_2.png) [@1QIKZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1QIKZ)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 7:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/12 "2013-02-17T07:11:34Z")
Only thing I can suggest at this point is some PB Blaster on the metal parts and prayer. ---
**Author:** ![slo\_ride](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@slo\_ride](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slo_ride)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/13 "2013-02-17T10:49:42Z")
Oh I see how it works now…cold chisel it is ---
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/plumbing-help-sink-strainer-is-stuck/228764/14 "2013-02-17T10:55:55Z")
Got it!!! Brother in law to help, combined with an oil filter wrench and some on blaster, and we got it loose! What a pain in the ass, lol. I am now replacing everything with new, thin wall piping.